Flowerdale Glen and Falls, Gairloch

The Flowerdale Glen and Falls walk follows a delightful waymarked path up a sheltered glen behind Gairloch, named by the Mackenzie lairds for its impressive displays of wildflowers, leading to two attractive cascades known as the Eas Dubh and Easan Bàna.

The route starts from a car park off the main road in Gairloch, opposite the turning for the harbour. From here, a path runs parallel to a track heading up the glen, passing a pond with varied trees and rhododendrons, and glimpsing Flowerdale House along the way — the seat of the Mackenzies since 1738, still a private residence today. Following the signed "Waterfall Walk," the path crosses several bridges and a boardwalk section, passing through woodland with lovely bluebells in early summer, before reaching a hydroelectric station and continuing towards the falls.

Near the falls, walkers can choose between a newer, broader path or the narrower, rougher original route that stays closer to the water — though not particularly high by Highland standards, the setting among the trees makes this a genuinely attractive spot. Above the falls, the two paths rejoin as the glen opens out, with a beautiful view back down towards the sea and the islands beyond. The return crosses back over the river near a memorial to the Blind Piper of Gairloch, retracing much of the outward route back to the start.

This is an easy, family-friendly walk on generally good waymarked paths, though the ground becomes rougher near the falls themselves, and the footbridge near the falls has previously been affected by closures — some walkers have reported fording the burn on stones as an alternative, so it's worth checking current conditions before setting out.

Parking at the Gairloch car park is free; there is a bus service to Gairloch.